By: Dana Norder

Turning Point

 

Rozlyn Fox believes that FOOD For Lane County is the perfect fit for her. Fox is the Senior Nutrition Programs Manager at FOOD For Lane County. She over sees the Meals on Wheels and the Senior Grocery programs. Being involved in both of these programs allows her to bring healthy food to those in need. She says that seeing the wide range of people that FOOD For Lane County helps keep her in check with reality. She says it feels like it keeps her from living in a bubble of privilege and keeps her humble. Fox finds her work rewarding because she cares deeply for the members of the Eugene community.

As a child, Fox was in 4H, a program that teaches kids about agriculture and volunteer work. On top of that she was also a Girl Scout, where she worked on more service projects. She explains that her history of volunteer work set her up for a great career at FOOD For Lane County. But this wasn’t always the route she saw herself going in. Fox says she found being a sociology major to be troubling. Learning about the injustice in the world made her angry. It made her even more passionate about social justice. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she reveals struggled to find employment. She says that finding a job during the Great Recession was extremely difficult. Fox was unemployed for eight months after graduating. She thought about going to law school. She says she knew she wanted to pursue her passion of helping others but that it would be expensive. Because she didn’t want to be a defense attorney or deal with corporations, she would be paying off student loans for her entire career. After debating the costs, seeing the other types of students that were interested in going to law school confirmed her doubts. She knew it was not the place for her. After an internship at FOOD For Lane County she found her home. Fox said, “I fell in love with the work.” She explained that her coworkers at FOOD for Lane County are just as caring and passionate as she is. Fox is very proud of her determination to find not only a job but a career of helping those in need. She explained that she has no regrets about her journey to find her passion.

Fox hopes for Meals on Wheels and the Senior Grocery Program to grow and interact more with community. She would like to get involved with new partnerships in the Eugene community. Fox’s goal is to make sure that those who are struggling with getting food get what they need. She believes, “People have the right to eat. And not to just have their basic needs met but to be able to be educated and live their culture.”